Anxiously waiting to hear back!

This one is still doing it after being in work for a year and is thin and lacking top line, worrying. My wobbler toe drags, only in walk, but otherwise looks normal and the first vet who saw him when I became worried said he was sound. A friend's horse tripped behind regularly and turned out to have kissing spines.

This was alarm bells to me as well, if I slow down the video in the arena he does toe drag a few times in trot. More so with his LH toe dragging but the RH is the one that seems to give way, also happened on the LH. When slowing it down.. it looks like he lands on his toe, his fetlock buckles under and he stands on the top of his pastern. Very strange and looks painful. Plus the extremely lacking topline and neck being very weedy - looks like a 2yo's neck, it did make me think neurological but could be something like kissing spine (although his back didn't feel sore)

He was on a bare patch of grass but had hay (looked ad-lib) he is ridden 5-6 days a week, he should look fitter though and not so thin.
 
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Thanks everyone. Going to view the mare tomorrow! They did say she has slightly capped hocks, but is never affected her.

I need to contact the owner of the gelding and tell her I'm not interested in perusing with him. Do I be honest and say I'm concerned with his tripping behind, my vet said this could be neurological/wobblers/stifle as realistically if it wasn't for that I'd be booking a vetting.. or do I just tell her thank you, but not for me..
 
Thanks everyone. Going to view the mare tomorrow! They did say she has slightly capped hocks, but is never affected her.

I need to contact the owner of the gelding and tell her I'm not interested in perusing with him. Do I be honest and say I'm concerned with his tripping behind, my vet said this could be neurological/wobblers/stifle as realistically if it wasn't for that I'd be booking a vetting.. or do I just tell her thank you, but not for me..

For the horse's sake, and to give myself a clear conscience because of that, I would say something.

Several years ago, I went to view a horse with a client and she displayed symptoms which were alarm bells for ulcers for me. There were other reasons why she wasn't right for my client too, but I did make a point of - very sympathetically - explaining to the owner that the behavioural aspects could be indicative of ulcers, and it might be worth having a discussion with her vet about it. I did partly use the angle that it might make her easier to sell if the behavioural aspects could be resolved. Horse had ulcers and was treated. Had I not said anything she would have continued suffering.

You can't force others to have the vet out for their horses, but sometimes a gentle word can really help, and you can help to make a change for that horse. Of course sometimes people get shirty and defensive, but I'd take that any day over not having said anything for the horse. Sometimes though, people genuinely just can't see things until they're pointed out and are often grateful when they are; nobody wants the guilt of their horse being in pain, and it's often worse to think 'If only I'd known'.


Hope the viewing with the mare goes well, how exciting!
 
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Thanks everyone. Going to view the mare tomorrow! They did say she has slightly capped hocks, but is never affected her.

I need to contact the owner of the gelding and tell her I'm not interested in perusing with him. Do I be honest and say I'm concerned with his tripping behind, my vet said this could be neurological/wobblers/stifle as realistically if it wasn't for that I'd be booking a vetting.. or do I just tell her thank you, but not for me..

No, keep sthum. Just say he’s not for you
 
If you can have the mare on trial you could have your own vet do a vetting so that's a huge positive.

Yes, did think that!

The mare was a very good racer, ran 58 flat races.. although wasn't raced as a 2yo her first race at 3 (maybe a slight positive) but the amount of races is a lot although most are 1m 4f so not massively long - that is my only concern.
 
Sooooo I’ve messaged about the mare and asked if I can go to meet her.. she sent me some videos yesterday and for 9 months in the field I must say she looks great. Moves nicely too..

they’ve said I could have her on trial and see how things go!

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I would get the trailer and shove her in it as quick as I can 🤣 she is a lovely sort! And if she looks like out of work! You are onto a really good thing! She is lovely 🥰
 
For the horse's sake, and to give myself a clear conscience because of that, I would say something.

Several years ago, I went to view a horse with a client and she displayed symptoms which were alarm bells for ulcers for me. There were other reasons why she wasn't right for my client too, but I did make a point of - very sympathetically - explaining to the owner that the behavioural aspects could be indicative of ulcers, and it might be worth having a discussion with her vet about it. I did partly use the angle that it might make her easier to sell if the behavioural aspects could be resolved. Horse had ulcers and was treated. Had I not said anything she would have continued suffering.

You can't force others to have the vet out for their horses, but sometimes a gentle word can really help, and you can help to make a change for that horse. Of course sometimes people get shirty and defensive, but I'd take that any day over not having said anything for the horse. Sometimes though, people genuinely just can't see things until they're pointed out and are often grateful when they are; nobody wants the guilt of their horse being in pain, and it's often worse to think 'If only I'd known'.


Hope the viewing with the mare goes well, how exciting!
No, keep sthum. Just say he’s not for you

Thing is he's the owners first horse of her own and first ex racer. She has loaned but never owned. She was extremely honest and down to earth, I just wonder if she thinks he trips as he's big and young (7) when realistically there is likely a reason why. Which is what pushes me to saying something, along the lines of.

Thank you for your time yesterday and lovely to meet X. He is a lovely boy. I sent the videos to my vet, who noticed he tripped behind frequently which concerns her as there could be veterinary reasons for this. Based on this, I'm not going to proceed with X. Wish you all the best finding him a lovely home.
 
Thing is he's the owners first horse of her own and first ex racer. She has loaned but never owned. She was extremely honest and down to earth, I just wonder if she thinks he trips as he's big and young (7) when realistically there is likely a reason why. Which is what pushes me to saying something, along the lines of.

Thank you for your time yesterday and lovely to meet X. He is a lovely boy. I sent the videos to my vet, who noticed he tripped behind frequently which concerns her as there could be veterinary reasons for this. Based on this, I'm not going to proceed with X. Wish you all the best finding him a lovely home.

From my personal view - I would always appreciate someone mentioning something to me if they noticed something wasn't quite right with one of my horses - it's so easy to fall into the trap of not noticing something as you see them every day and in all conditions.

The seller has been honest and down to earth with you and the way that I see it is that you are returning the kindness by letting her know that you noticed something not quite right - I think what you've written is lovely, expresses your genuine gratitude for being able to try X and the genuine reason why you aren't proceeding with the sale x
 
Yes, did think that!

The mare was a very good racer, ran 58 flat races.. although wasn't raced as a 2yo her first race at 3 (maybe a slight positive) but the amount of races is a lot although most are 1m 4f so not massively long - that is my only concern.

She is a fundamentally sound horse if she can run that many times. Doesn’t mean there won’t be any ongoing management, but if she is a freebie then you can keep your buying pot for that.

It’s the ones that are too 💩 to make it to the track you need to be wary of. Because the experts have decided they are not good enough to invest any money in. And it’s usually for reasons other than ‘too slow!’
 
Thank you for your time yesterday and lovely to meet X. He is a lovely boy. I sent the videos to my vet, who noticed he tripped behind frequently which concerns her as there could be veterinary reasons for this. Based on this, I'm not going to proceed with X. Wish you all the best finding him a lovely home.

This is actually really nicely put.
 
Oh my. She is absolutely gorgeous.. so friendly and affectionate. She left her dinner to have a scratch and some fuss!

I’ve said I’d love to have her and just waiting to hear back!

Just need to think of a stable name now. I’ve come up with Pearl, Rose, Petal and Saphie so far but not sure. She is so pretty she needs a pretty type of name..
 
May is a lovely name, I wouldn’t change it! Plus some people say it’s bad luck to change a horses name…haha 😛
 
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